Home visit

At the dinner table, Si Xiaonan sleepily shoveled food into her mouth while Wang Quan and Hongying exchanged awkward looks.

"Big Devil, why aren't you eating?" Ever since her beating yesterday, Xiaonan had settled on that nickname, and Wang Quan didn't mind.

"Oh!"

"I'm eating. Eating dinner!" Wang Quan absentmindedly picked up a piece of pork rib.

"Uh!"

"Of course we're eating dinner. What else would we be doing? Holding a meeting?"

"And you, Hongying, what are you staring at?" Si Xiaonan gave her a knowing look. "You can't take your eyes off him. Got a crush..."

"Mmph, mmph, mmph!"

Hongying reacted swiftly and clapped a hand over Si Xiaonan's mouth.

"Xiaonan, no talking while eating!" There was a hint of menace in Hongying's voice.

Si Xiaonan nodded repeatedly, her expression saying, I get it, I get it.

After dinner, Wang Quan cleaned up the dishes. Since he was staying in their home, he couldn't just freeload. He had to help out somehow.

Si Xiaonan curled up on the couch with a comic book. Grinning at Hongying, she went straight for the kill. "Hongying, if you like him, go for it!"

"Look, the Big Demon King is handsome, and he's already one of the Special Squad's top talents at such a young age. Aside from hitting a little too hard, he's a great guy!"

"He's only here on vacation for a little while. Miss this chance, and you won't get another!"

"Just look at yourself. Your eyes were practically popping out at the dinner table."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

"Can't blame you, though. You've been single since birth. It's only natural to fall for such an outstanding guy!"

"If it were me, I'd..."

With a whoosh, a piece of cake flew into Si Xiaonan's mouth. Hongying had turned into Godzilla, one Atomic Breath away from erupting.

"Xiaonan, stop talking nonsense, or I'll spank you!"

"I... I don't have a crush on him!"

"I'm leaving. I'm off to carry out my mission!"

"We still haven't found the Ghost-Faced King!"

Blushing, Hongying shot Si Xiaonan a glare and hurried out.

Ten minutes later, Wang Quan left as well, making a phone call as he walked.

"Hello!"

"Aren't you on vacation?"

"Spit it out!"

Ye Fan's impatient voice rang out. Whenever this guy called, it never meant anything good.

"Commander, transfer a hundred thousand to my account!"

"I'll transfer my fist to your face. Your pay's already been docked for the next four years."

"This is serious. There's an agent of Michael in Cangnan!"

"I know!"

"His family's struggling, and he can't get away to join the Night Watchers even if he wants to. I thought I'd apply for a little allowance!"

"Uh! Charge it to my salary, not public funds!"

The other end went silent. Soon, Wang Quan's phone chimed.

Ding!

A hundred thousand yuan had been deposited into his bank account!

"Good of you to think of that!"

"Hahaha, of course! Dashing, kind, upright, selfless, a champion of justice..."

"That's exactly the sort of person I am!"

"Shameless bastard. You've claimed every compliment for yourself!" Ye Fan cursed again, his voice full of disdain.

"By the way, stay in Cangnan City for now!"

"That place..."

"Isn't peaceful!"

"Huh?!"

"Seems pretty good to me. Even the legendary Black Impermanence is here. Should I notify the people in the Upper Capital..."

Ye Fan cut Wang Quan off decisively. "No!"

With that, he hung up.

Just then, it began to rain.

In the blink of an eye, the dry asphalt darkened, and the curtain of rain blurred the view.

With his hands in his pockets and not a drop of rain touching him, Wang Quan strolled leisurely toward the bank.

Gradually, the downpour swallowed his figure.

A figure emerged from the curtain of rain. It was Zhao Kongcheng, who had just arrived at the family's doorstep. He had brought a confidentiality agreement, and he wanted to make one last attempt.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who is it?!" Auntie opened the door and looked at the stranger standing outside in confusion.

"Hello!"

"My name is Zhao Kongcheng. I'm a PE teacher at No. 2 Middle School. Since Qiye has trouble with his eyes, I came for a home visit and to see how he's doing!"

Zhao Kongcheng sounded sincere. After hearing what Lin Qiye had been through, he felt especially sympathetic toward the boy.

"Oh, I see!"

"Please come in, Mr. Zhao. Sorry for the trouble!"

"No trouble. It's my responsibility!"

Before long, Lin Qiye came home.

"Oh dear! How did you get so soaked?"

"Auntie, I forgot my umbrella!" Lin Qiye chuckled.

"Silly boy, you should have called me. I'd have come to get you!" Auntie scolded, but her hands never stopped moving as she fetched Lin Qiye a towel.

"Qiye, your PE teacher's here for a home visit. He's in your room!"

Lin Qiye was dumbfounded.

He pushed open his bedroom door. Just as he had expected, Zhao Kongcheng was sitting there with a cup of tea, smiling.

"Seriously, mister!"

"How did you find my home?"

"This is a tracker!" Zhao Kongcheng picked up the emblem on the table, looking smug.

"Uh!"

"So that was your plan all along!"

"I told you, I don't want to join you. Stop wasting your time!"

"No, no, I'm here to have you sign the agreement. I reported you missing!"

"And Little Wang isn't handling this, so don't worry!"

"Fine, I'll sign!"

As Lin Qiye signed, Zhao Kongcheng remarked, "Your aunt really hasn't had it easy!"

"She reminds me of my mom. Back then, I ran off to enlist by myself and left her all alone too. Ah..."

"Thinking back on it now, I wasn't a very good son!"

Zhao Kongcheng sighed, then took out a roll of kraft paper and placed it on the table, slowly unfolding it.

Lin Qiye looked closely. It was money. A lot of money.

"The Night Watchers get generous salaries and allowances. More than we can spend. Consider this a gift from me to your aunt. Raising you all these years couldn't have been easy!"

"There aren't many people that good left!"

With that, Zhao Kongcheng pushed the money into Lin Qiye's hands.

"I don't want it!"

"The Night Watchers really aren't short of money!"

"I still don't want it!"

"Why are you so stubborn, kid?"

"Looking at you reminds me of who I used to be. I want to make up for it a little."

"Then give it to your mom!"

"She's remarried, and I send her money every month!"

"Then give it to your wife and kids!"

"Didn't I tell you? My family's not short of money. Even if I die in the line of duty, they'll never have to worry about food or shelter for the rest of their lives. Their future's secure!"

"Oh!"

"Then keep it to buy cigarettes!"

"I won't take a soldier's money!"

After all their back-and-forth, Zhao Kongcheng still couldn't overcome Lin Qiye's stubbornness.

"I'm leaving!"

"I'm really leaving!"

Zhao Kongcheng looked back every few steps. He still wanted to persuade him, but whenever he thought of this family's circumstances and this strong-willed boy, he couldn't bring himself to say anything.

"Wait!"

Lin Qiye called him back. Old Zhao's eyes lit up, thinking the boy had changed his mind.

"Your emblem!"

"Oh! Almost forgot. This thing's my life!"

"And take an umbrella. It's raining outside!"

"Thanks, but I won't be able to return the umbrella!"

"It's fine. Think of it as payment for heroes like you. Goodbye!"

Lin Qiye watched Zhao Kongcheng leave, smiling faintly at his sturdy back.

This man was a good person. A very good person.

Lin Qiye didn't dislike him.

He just couldn't let go of his own little family.

How many people could?

"Mister, the roads are slippery in the rain. Stay safe!" Lin Qiye reminded him.

"Got it. Go back inside!"

Zhao Kongcheng got back into the black van at an unhurried pace and put away the umbrella. Just as he was about to light a cigarette, his earpiece sounded.

It was Chen Muye.

"Old Zhao, we've tracked down the Ghost-Faced King!"

"It's most likely to appear in one of two places: the old district or the city center."

"Get ready to evacuate the civilians!"

"Yes, sir!"

Zhao Kongcheng stared out the window, his brows tightly furrowed.

The rain grew heavier and heavier, swallowing the world completely.